Barn gutter cleaner



A. F. KLINZING BARN GUTTER CLEANER Oct. 30, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 9, 1953 FLL llllllllll l||| lllxllll llllll) Oct. 30, 1956 A. F. KLlNzlNG 2,768,734

BARN GUTTER CLEANER Filed oct. p, 1953 s sheets-sheet 2 llll ll'l llllllul' IH null' Oct. 30, 1956 A. F. KLlNzlNG BARN GUTTER CLEANER 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 9, 1953 A r Toen/5x5,

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@Zw/KM United States Patent O BARN GUTTER CLEANER August F. Kliuzing, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application October 9, 19513, Serial No. 3851,158

8 Claims. (Cl. 198-229) My invention relates in general to improvements in the art of transporting or conveying bulk material, and relates more specically to various improvements in the construction and operation of barn gutter cleaners or the like.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide an improved barn gutter cleaning installation which is simple and durable in construction, and which is also highly reliable and eiiicient in operation.

Many different types of so-called barn cleaners for removing animal refuse and litter from the gutters adjoining the stock housing stalls of barns, have heretofore been proposed and used with varying degrees of success, but all of these prior installations have proven relatively unsatisfactory for diverse reasons. Perhaps the most popular of these barn gutter cleaners is the type wherein a succession of litter and refuse conveying liights is mov able along a manure collecting gutter extending past the rear of the animal stalls or stables, and which are transportable by means of an endless carrier chain coacting with guiding sprockets and capable of advancing the flights through a discharge zone usually located at the upper end of an inclined platform or ramp. One major objection to the previous barn cleaners of this type, was the difliculties encountered within the installation and mode of adjusting the parts so as to insure proper functioning without excessive attention, and another main objection was the inability of the equipment to automatically and effectively handle soggy refuse containing considerable litter and corrosive ingredients. Then too, these prior mechanical barn cleaner units were relatively costly and complicated and required considerable operating power, thus placing them beyond the reach of farmers having relatively few animals and limited funds.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide various improvements in the construction and operation of barn cleaners of the chain propelled refuse conveying type, whereby the cost of installation and operation thereof is reduced to a minimum, while eicient functioning with least attention is assured at all times.

Another important object of this invention is to provide improved mechanism for varying the tension and for driving a barn gutter cleaner of the chain and ilight type in a most eective manner but with minimum effort and power consumption.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved barn gutter `cleaning installation which is capable of automatically handling various kinds of manure without danger of clogging, in which the refuse transporting flights are eifectively cleansed as they pass through the discharge zone, and wherein reversal of the chain and ilight movement is positively prevented.

Still another important object of my invention is to provide improved guiding and protective devices for the ight carrier and conveying chain of a barn gutter cleaner, whereby objectionable accumulation of litter at the direction changing localities of the chain is positively eliminated and smooth operation is insured.

2,768,734 Patented Get. 3Q, i956 An additional important object of my present invention is to provide an improved gutter cleaning unit all parts of which are especially adapted to resist corrosion due to handling acidy materials, and wherein standard chain links may be utilized to transport the ights.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an improved iiight mounting for a barn cleaner conveyor assemblage, which will most eifectively maintain the flights in eificient operating position, but will still permit ready interruption or parting of the chain links at any of the ights.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive but extremely durable and efcient barn gutter cleaner of the chain propelled iiight type, which may be quickly installed by a novice and readily adjusted for most efective functioning while the unit is operating.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide improved means for automatically releasing the successive chain links from the chain driving sprocket of a barn gutter cleaner, together with automatically functioning wipers operable by the successive flights as they advance about the driving sprocket for removing adhering refuse from the litter transporting flights.

These and other more specific objects and advantages of my present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, from which it will be noted that the gist of the improvement is the provision of a chain and flight type of barn gutter cleaner having improved chain driving and guiding devices and mechanism for automatically removing straw and manure from the flights and for releasing the chain from the driving sprocket at the refuse discharge zone, together with an improved ight attachment and means for effecting convenient assembly or parting and adjustment of the chain tension.

A clear conception of the improved features constituting the present invention, and of the construction and operation of a typical commercial unit embodying the same, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan view of a typical barn gutter cleaning installation of the chain propelled conveyor flight type embodying the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top and side perspective view of the power unit for driving the endless chain of the installation shown in Fig. 1, and which is located at the upper refuse discharge end of the inclined ramp associated with that installation;

Fig. 3 is a likewise enlarged bottom perspective view of the power unit illustrated in Fig. 2, but having the protective cover of the unit shown in the background, and also showing the chain releasing spring pressed plunger in section;

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged transverse section through one of the debris conveying iiights showing the manner in which the straw removing rake coacts therewith, the View being taken looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a likewise enlarged transverse section through one of the refuse transporting iiights showing the manner in which the final cleaner coacts therewith directly beyond the discharge zone, this View being taken looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a bottom and rear perspective View of the im proved conveyor chain tensioning mechanism and of a fragment of the inclined ramp support associated with the upper discharge end of the ramp;

Fig. 7 is a top View of a fragment of the lower end of the inclined material discharge ramp and of the adjacent gutters, showing fragments of the conveyor chain and some of the oppositely advancing refuse transporting flights as they leave and return to the gutter;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of portions of the refuse collecting gutters adjoining the discharge and tlight return ramp, showing some of the improved chain guiding and protecting devices;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the endless chain driving sprocket showing a section through the spring pressed chain releasing7 plunger operable by the successive revolving teeth of the sprocket;

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of one of the fastenings for attaching the flights to the disconnecting links of the conveyor chain;

Fig. ll is a section through the chain link and llight attachment, taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. l0; and

Fig. l2 is a bottom view of one of the corner guide wheels for smoothly conducting the chain around the corners of the refuse collecting gutters.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as being advantageously applicable to a barn gutter cleaner of the endless chain type for use in a cattle housing barn having a refuse collecting gutter of a particular form, it is not my desire or intent to unnecessarily limit the improved structures to such usage; and it is also contemplated that specic descriptive terms employed herein be given the broadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawings and especially to Figs. 1, 3 and 9, the barn gutter installation shown therein comprises in general, a loop shaped horizontal refuse collecting gutter 14 formed within the floor of a barn 15 and extending across the rear ends of any desired number of stalls 16 for confining cows or other animals 17; an upwardly inclined platform or ramp 18 having forward and return runways disposed in alinement with the outlet and inlet ends respectively of the gutter 14, and projecting externally of the barn to a discharge zone 19 located well above the outside ground level; an electric motor driven power unit 20 adjustably associated with the material delivery upper end of the ramp 18 and having a chain driving sprocket 21 at the refuse discharge zone 19; an endless conveyor chain having ordinary and special links 22, 23 respectively, cooperable with the sprocket teeth to constantly advance the chain along the gutter 14 while the sprocket 21 is rotating; and a series of flights 24 each secured to one of the special chain links 23 and adapted to be transported by the chain along and in substantial contact with the bottom of the gutter 14 and along the runways of the ramp 18, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

The loop shaped material collecting trough or gutter 14 may be formed directly within a concrete barn floor, and of any desired length and shape, but preferably has a smooth and fiat bottom along which the llights 24 which span the gutter are adapted to ride; and these flights 24 may be formed of angle iron and are mounted upon the special chain links 23 so that one flange of each of the successive flights travels perpendicular to the flat gutter bottom while the other ange is spaced from and is disposed parallel to this bottom, As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the junction between the discharge end of the gutter 14 and the lower end of the material receiving end of the forward runway of the ramp 18 is provided with a wheel 26 rotatable about a horizontal axis and having its periphery formed with an annular groove cooperable with the vertical links and with cylindrical surfaces adjoining the groove and cooperable with horizontal links of the advancing conveyor chain so as to hold the flights 24 against the gutter bottom and against the adjacent runway of the ramp 18 at the junction of the gutter 14 and the ramp. The opposite sides of the wheel 26 are also provided with large and small anges coacting with the flights 24 and with their clamping members respectively; and in order to prevent sticky debris from clogging this wheel 26, a guard plate 27 of triangular shape and which is disposed close to the top of the advancing chain links 22, 23 in front of the guide wheel 26 is also provided.

The junction between the receiving end of the gutter 14 and the return runway of the ramp 18 is provided with a stationary angle guide 28 also shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and which coacts with the advancing chain as it returns to the gutter and thereby changes the direction of travel of the chain links 22, 23 from inclined to horizontal. After the conveyor chain has been directed horizontally into the receiving end of the gutter 14, it is caused to travel through a special stationary arcuate guide 29 comprising upper and lower separable sections of large radius and which are provided with a gap 30 through which the successive flights 24 are adapted to travel, as illustrated in Fig. 8. Each of the remaining corners of the gutter 14 is provided with a special chain guiding wheel 31 such as shown in Fig. l2, having a circular top llange 32 and a continuous depending wall 33 provided with notches 34 at its lower edge. This wall 33 is formed to snugly engage the successive vertical and horizontal links of the conveyor chain, while the downwardly open notches are formed to clear the flight fastening elements and also permit debris to fall downwardly into the gutter 14 thereby eliminating cloggmg.

The upwardly inclined platform or ramp 18 may have its lower end secured to the floor of the barn 15 so as to permit limited change in the angularity of the ramp, and the upper end portion of the ramp 18 is supported by means of two sturdy props which may be formed of telescopic upper and lower sections 37, 38 respectively, which are relatively longitudinally adjustable so as to vary the xed inclination of the ramp, see Fig, 6. The ramp 13 which terminates'short of the material delivery zone 19, must be of sturdy construction, and the power unit 2) which is adjustable longitudinally of theupper end of the ramp comprises a frame or base 39 slidably cooperable with spaced guideways 40 formed on the ramp 18; an electric motor 41 mounted on the base 39; an endless belt drive 42 connecting the motor shaft with several speed reducing chain drives 43, 44; and the sprocket wheel 21 which is driven by the chain drives and drivingly coacts with the conveyor chain, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. All of these drives 42, 43, 44 and the sprocket 21 are mounted directly upon the motor supporting base 39, and in order to effect adjustment ofthe unit 20 so as to tension the lconveyor chain, a special adjusting mechanism such as shown in Figs. 3 and 6 is provided.

This chain tensioning mechanism is located beneath the upper end of the inclined ramp 1S and consists primarily of a peripherally grooved wheel 46 journalled for frcc rotation in the guideways 40 of the ramp; a longitudinally movable screw threaded rod 47 slidably mounted in a bracket 48 secured to the ramp 18 rearwardly of the wheel 46; a flexible element such as a chain 49 the medial portion of which coacts with the peripheral groove of the wheel 46 while one end thereof is secured to the upper end of the rod 47 and its opposite end is fastened to the lower end of the power unit base 39; and an adjusting nut 50 coacting with the lower screw threaded end of the rod 47 and with the bracket 48. The nut 50 is provided with a series of radial holes 51 adapted to receive a turning bar 52, so that by utilizing lthe bar 52 to rotate the nut 5l) in either direction, the powerv unit 20 and its conveyor driving sprocket 21 may be moved bodily either up or down along the ramp 18 so as to either increase or decrease the tension on the conveyor chain without parting or removing any of the chain links.

The main llight transporting chain which slidably cooperates with the inner side wall of the gutter 14, is formed primarily of sturdy elliptical standard links 22, but the links 23 which carry the llights 24 are of special and improved construction in order to hold the flights perpendicular to the conveyor chain at all times, as depicted in Figs. l0 and ll. Each of these special links 23 has a gap or opening 54 at one side bounded by two parallel inwardly projecting ends 55 which are spaced from the opposite side of the link 23 a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the link sto-ck. A unitary flight attaching member 56 formed of durable metal and having grooves on one side adapted to clampingly engage the opposite sides of the link 23, is provided with a gutter engaging end flange S7 and with a square lug 53 near the iiange 57, and also has an opening 59 in its medial portion midway between two flanges 6th which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the top flange of each flight 24. Each flight 2d is also provided near its suspension end with a square hole adapted to snugly receive the lug 5S of a member 56 and with an opening alineable with the member opening 59, and when the supporting end of the flight 24 is inserted between the flanges 60 a fastening bolt 6l and nut 62 may be applied to the alined openings to firmly attach the flight 2d to the conveyor chain. However, when one of the bolts 6l is released and the chain tension is relieved sufciently by manipulation of the nut Sil coacting with the rod 47, then the chain may be parted by merely removing the released member 56 and by slipping the end of one of the adjacent ordinary links 22 through the gap S4- between the ends of the special link 23.

The conveyor chain driving sprocket 21 is of durable construction and is secured to a shaft 64 driven at relatively slow speed by the lower chain drive 44 of the power unit Ztl, and this sprocket has four or more teeth 65 and a series of intervening depending lugs 66 adapted to drivingly engage the successive links 22, 23 of the ight conveying chain, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. Because of the sticky nature of the manure, the chain links 22, 23 tend to ciing to the sprocket teeth 65 as the chain advances through the discharge zone 19, and in order to prevent such clinging action a releasing and reverse movement preventing plunger 68 has been provided. This plunger 68 has opposite side flanges 69 spaced apart so as to clear the sprocket teeth 65' and coacts with a helical compression spring t which reacts against an abutment 7i on the motor base 39. The plunger 6.3 is guided for reciprocation upon the base 39 in the path of travel of the revolving sprocket teeth 65, and when the sprocket 21 rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 9, the successive teeth 65 retract the plunger 6d so as to compress the spring 7@ and subsequently release the plunger to thereby cause the spring to impell the plunger nose forwardly with considerable impact against the next succeeding driving link 22 of the main chain and against the adjacent sprocket tooth 65', thus positively preventing the chain from clinging to the sprocket 2l. The plunger 68 also positively prevents reverse movement of the chain and sprocket, and this action takes place against each of the successive sprocket teeth 65 and the chain link 22 coacting therewith, and is entirely automatic.

The sticky and straw laden nature of the litter removed from the gutter i4 by the ights 2d also tends to cause debris to cling and adhere to the fiights as they pass through the discharge zone i9, but in order to prevent such adhesion of material to the flights 2d, means are provided for automatically initially removing the straw and for iinally cleaning the flights as they leave the zone i9. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the automatic device for removing excess straw and litter as each of the ights 24s enters the discharge zone i9, comprises an arm 73 swingably suspended from a pivot pin 74 carried by the motor base 39 and having a transverse plate at its pivoted end providing opposite projections 75', 76 while its opposite swinging end carries a straw rake or wiper 77. rhe outer end of the projection 75 is connected to one end of a helical tension spring 7d the opposite end of which is attached to the base 39 so as to constantly resiliently urge the wiper 77 inwardly toward the sprocket shaft 64, and the outer ends of both 4of the projections 75, 76 are cooperable with stop pins 79 in order to limit the inward and outward swinging motion of the arm 73 and wiper 77.

The wiper 77 isprovided with a relatively deep lower recess 89 adapted to ride along each of the successive flights 24, and the mechanism is so constructed that each of the flights 24 will engage the recess 80 of the wiper 77 near the conveyor chain when the flight approaches the zone i@ as depicted in Fig. 3, and will automatically swing the arm 73 and the wiper 77 outwardly so as to cause the latter to travel along the flight and to stretch the spring 7S until the wiper passes beyond :the outer free end of the flight Z4 whereupon the spring 78 quickly returns the arm 73 and the wiper 77 to the position illustrated.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the automatic device for lnally cleaning each of the successive ights 24 as it leaves the material discharge zone 19, comprises an arm 82 swingably suspended from the motor base 39 by a pivot pin 33 and having its pivoted end provided with opposite projections S4, $5 while its outer swinging end carries a bifurcated flight cleaner 86 pivotally attached thereto by a bolt S7 and having a recess 3S adapted to receive the successive flights 24. The end projection 84 of the arm 32 is connected by links 89 to one end of a lever 9@ the medial portion of which is also secured to the motor base uy a pivot pin 9i and the opposite end of which is connected by a helical tension spring 92 to the other projection 85 of the arm $2. The pivot pins di are located closer to the spring 92 than to the links S3, and the assemblage is such that each of the successive advancing flights upon leaving the discharge Zone i9, will engage the recess 38 of the cleaner $6 near the conveyor chain and will automatically swing the arm 32 so as to move the cleaner Se outwardly along the flight and stretch the spring 92 until the cleaning element passes beyond the end of the flight 24 as it is about to do in 3, whereupon the spring 92 promptly returns the arm S2 and the cleaner 36 to innermost position.

The cleaner arm 33 is swingably supported on one or more rigid guide bars 9d and beneath a bracing bar 95 and the flights 2d are cooperable with guiding and supporting plates 96 secured to the ramp i8 and projecting into the Zone ig. The entire power unit 29 is also adapted to be enclosed within a removable cover 97 secured to the base by a hinge 98 as shown in Fig. 3, and all of the elements which are exposed to the refuse material are preferably constructed of corrosion resistant materials which will withstand corrosion by acids Such as are embodied in manure or the like.

When the improved barn gutter cleaner has been properly constructed, assembled and installed in a barn l5 as illustrated in Fig. l, the motor il and conveyor should first be operated idly so that the main conveyor chain may be properly tension-ed with the aid of the mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and that other parts may be adjusted se as to insure most effective functioning thereof. Litter, manure and other debris may thereafter be deposited within the gutter ifa, whereupon the constantly advancing series of flights Zai will transport the bulk material along the gutter trough and upwardly along the forward runway of the inclined ramp i8 as illustrated in Fig. 7, and when this refuse reaches the upper end of the ramp i8 the major portion of the bulk material falls through the discharge zone i9 into a wagon or other receptacle located therebelow. As each of the successive flights 2d enters the discharge Zone i9 it is engaged near its inner end by the straw wiper 77, and during its advancement about the sprocket 2i the engaged liight swings the arm '73 about its pivot pin 74 and thereby causes the wiper 77 to travel outwardly along the iiight and to rake the bulk of the adhering litter from the fright while simultaneously stretching the spring 78. "l" he wiper 77 ultimately travels beyond thc free end of the liight 2d whereupon the spring 78 swings the arm 73 and wiper '77 inwardly toward the sprocket 2l preparatory to engagement with the next flight 24.

As each of the successive initially wiped flights 24 proceeds through the discharge zone i9, it is subsequently 7 engaged near its inner end by the final cleaner 86, and during its advancement about the sprocket Z1 the thusly engaged flight swings the arm 82 about its pivot pin 83 and causes the cleaner 86 to travel outwardly along the flight and to scrape residual manure from the flight while simultaneously stretching the spring 92. The cleaner 86 ultimately travels beyond the outer end of the flight whereupon the spring 92 swings the arm 82 and cleaner 86 inwardly toward the sprocket 21 preparatory to engagement of the cleaner with the next flight 24. The successive conveyor flights 24 are thus automatically and effectively cleaned as they pass through the discharge zone 19, but since the chain links 22, 23 also have some adhering sticky deposits thereon, these links tend to cling to the teeth 65 of the driving sprocket 21. However, in order to eliminate this undesirable clinging action and to release the driving links from the sprocket teeth 65, these advancing successive teeth 65 retract and release the wedge shaped plunger 68 and cause the compression spring 70 to drive the plunger nose beneath the links of the advancing conveyor chain and against the advancing tapered edges of the following revolving teeth 65, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 9, thus automatically releasing the chain from the driving sprocket 21, and also positively preventing reverse movement of the chain and sprocket.

The recesses 80, 88 in the wiper 77 and cleaner 86 respectively are important since they insure removal of debris from the top and bottom as well as from the front of each flight 24, and while these flight cleaning and chain releasing and reversal prevention operations are taking place at the discharge zone 19, the guide wheel 26 and the angle guide 2S are functioning to smoothly conduct the conveyor chain upwardly and downwardly with respect to the inclined ramp 18, and the angular guard plate 27 located in advance of the guide Wheel 26 also serves to deflect the litter away from the periphery of this wheel. The thoroughly cleaned conveyor and flights upon reentering the gutter 14 also travels smoothly through the gradually curved elongated arcuate guide casing 29, and subsequently advance along the gutter 14 and around the improved guiding wheels 31 located at the subsequent gutter corners or turns, while the flanged portions 57 of the successive flight clamps 56 ride along the side of the gutter 14 so as to protect the chain against wear and the flights 24 travel in close proximity to the flat gutter bottom and are held perpendicular to the chain. The corner guide wheels 31 with their continuous depending undulated walls 33 also effectively prevent debris from accumulating on these wheels, so that all portions of the installation are thoroughly protected against clogging.

The improved fasteners for attaching the flights 24 to the chain links 23, firmly maintain each flight perpendicular to its carrying link at all times, but the special formation of the links 23 and of the fastening members 56 as shown in Figs. l0 and 1l permits rapid and convenient assembly or dismantling of the chain, when the chain tensioning device shown in Fig, 6 is released sufficiently to permit one of the ordinary links 22 which coact directly with each special link 23 to be passed through the gap 54 of the latter after the clamping member 56 and the adjacent flight 24 have been removed. These improved ight attachments also hold the flights so that the upright flanges thereof are disposed forwardly of the flights and substantially perpendicular to the gutter bottom, but will permit the flights to swing upwardly if abnormal obstructions are encountered in the gutter 14.

From the foregoing detailed description of the construction and operati-on of the mechanism, it will be apparent that the present invention in fact provides an improved barn gutter cleaner which is simple, compact and durable in structure, and which is also flexible in adaptation and eflicient in use. The entire functioning of the unit after proper adjustments have been made, is smooth and automatic and requires no special attention.

Most of the parts of the assemblage may be formed of standard structural steel and simple castings, and the flights 24 are methodically and thoroughly cleaned at the discharge zone 19 by the wiper 77 and cleaner 86 both of which are actuated by the advancing movement of the successive flights 24. All of the driving and guiding elements of the improved assemblage are also most effectively protected against accumulation of debris thereon which tends to increase the power consumption, so that the unit may be driven by an electric motor 41 of relatively small capacity. The present invention has proven highly satisfactory and successful in actual commercial use, and the improved features may be embodied in barn gutter cleaner installations `of various sizes having gutters 14 of diverse shapes. It is also noteworthy that the chain and driving sprocket of the improved unit, are positively prevented by the plunger 63 from reverse movement, that the flanges 57 of the clamping members 56 hold the chain out of engagement with the side of the gutter 14, that these members 56 augment the strength Vof the locally interrupted chain links 23, and that the recessed wiper 77 and cleaner 86 effectively remove debris from three sides of each of the advancing flights Z4 instead of only the front faces thereof.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction and operation of the barn gutter cleaner specifically shown and described herein, for various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a barn cleaner having a succession of litter conveying flights movable along a definite path toward a refuse discharge zone, an endless conveyor chain longitudinally movable by a sprocket disposed within said zone, and inpact means automatically operable by the successive teeth of said sprocket to release the links of said chain from the sprocket.

2. In a barn cleaner having a succession of litter conveying flights movable along a definite path toward a refuse discharge zone, an endless flight conveyor chain longitudinally movable by a sprocket located near said Zone, and a spring pressed plunger operable by each tooth of said sprocket to release the links of said chain from succeeding sprocket teeth.

3. In a barn cleaner having a succession `of litter conveying flights movable along a defini-te path toward a refuse discharge zone, an endless chain operable by a sprocket located near said zone to advance the successive flights along said path, a scraping element movable longitudinally along and by each of the flights as they advance in succession through said zone to remove adhering foreign matter from the free outer ends of the flights, and a plunger operable by each revolving sprocket tooth to release said chain from the succeeding sprocket tooth.

4. In a barn cleaner having a succession of litter transporting flights movable along a definite path, a flight conveying chain movable by a sprocket along said path, and mechanical means automatically operable by teeth of said sprocket to release the chain links from said teeth,

5. In a barn cleaner having a succession of litter transporting flights movable along a definite path, a flight conveying chain movable by a sprocket along said path, and a plunger operable by revolving teeth of said sprocket to automatically release the chain links from said sprocket teeth.

6. In a barn cleaner having a succession of litter transporting flights movable along a definite path, a flight conveying chain movable by a sprocket along said path, a scraper movable longitudinally along each of said flights as they advance past said sprocket, and mechanical means operable by revolving teeth of said sprocket to automatically release the chain links from said sprocket teeth.

7. In a barn cleaner having a succession of litter transporting flights movable along a definite path, a flight con- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 415,080 Whitney Nov. 12, 1889 10 Coleman June 20, Smith May 27, Robey Aug. 5, Edwards Mar. 14, Hudson Apr. 7, Sinden May 12, Rayburn et al. Feb. 13, Patz et al. May 29, Weir Sept. 16, Vodoz Feb. 3, Ba'ehr Apr. 28, 

